Far too many members of the courts, and the pundits who mistakenly try to quote the First Amendment, have difficulty reading. The Courier faithfully reprints the First Amendment in each of their issues. Let’s take a close look and read beyond the first few words. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. This seems very clear and without argument. Now read on. Or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Obviously the courts are prohibiting the free exercise of religion. Continuing, or abridging the freedom of speech of the press. Continuing on, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble.

Considering all these words, what gives the courts the authority to limit and even prohibit prayer, of any faith, from our schools and public bodies? Even our church members are threatened by the government if they try to express their rights. The first amendment clearly allows free speech, and does not prohibit religion. The Courts seem stuck on only the first few words and never examine the whole Amendment.

Our forefathers, wary of how The Church of England tried to restrict their freedom, wrote the first few words. But our forefathers also realized the value of free expression of religion as it brought order to their lives. Their thoughts were clear that religion was not to be restricted, providing the church did not try to dominate their lives.

In November of 2008, the Supreme Court’s decision on this matter was decided 5-4. This means that only one man held in his hands the start of all this controversy as he broke the tie of four to four. One man on the Supreme Court held the balance of power we now struggle under. Obviously, this judge failed to read the rest of the first amendment, just as many others still do.

This one man, Justice Anthony Kennedy, has enabled the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and others to hold our schools and public bodies hostage. They fear the courts will require them to pay thousands of tax dollars to the ACLU, as the ACLU wins court case after court case based on the Supreme Court decision. Those thousands of tax dollars go into the pockets of the ACLU, and are forever lost to the public. Those tax dollars, taken from you and I, should have been used to educate our children, or building roads, or helping those unable to help themselves, or for other public purposes.

The answer? We must stand toe to toe and fight back. I am not saying liberals should not have their say, but we must stop the extreme Liberals who dominate our courts. We must carefully examine the thoughts and aims of those we send to Congress. We must not allow ourselves to be swayed by shiny promises. It will take years to undue the damage inflicted upon us, as those Court members who can not read are slowly replaced on the Supreme Court. But we can win back our rights under the first amendment, if we stay on a steady course.

We must examine what each candidate has done in the past, not just swallow what he or she said at election time. Too many politicians just want a free ride, promising all things to all people, as they sit in Congress. See you at the polls.